In a Paris news conference on January 10th, French prime minister Elisabeth Borne announced that the minimum retirement age to be entitled to a full, state-provided pension will increase by three months every year, starting this year, in line with a pledge made by President Emmanuel Macron in October. The
South Korea’s safe trucking freight rate system, also commonly known as the “minimum wage system of the roads,” prevents truckers from being overworked, overloaded, and forced to speed by guaranteeing a minimum annual wage. However, the Trucking Transport Business Act which implements this safe rate system is temporary and excludes
On October 17, 2022, the European Union’s Foreign Ministers gathered to discuss the current and future vision for a more involved and fully-fledged partnership with China in global initiatives such as climate change and global health. Additionally, the talks involved creating a robust plan to compete with China directly in
A recent source of conflict between the U.S. and Mexico has been Mexico’s energy policies. A new Mexican law allows a state-run producer, which relies heavily on coal, a greater share of the electric power market, which decreases the shares owned by private and American energy firms, which include wind
Gustavo Petro, considered Colombia’s first leftist president, has proposed an $11 billion tax plan to the nation’s congress in order to increase social spending. Petro’s campaign promises to improve crime rates by investing in rural areas that have been plagued with drug-related violence for years. Colombia has long been troubled
It has been well-established that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused severe conflict with member countries of the European Union, and has led to the cutting of commercial ties with Russia’s oil and gas producers. While it is great that these European countries took a stand against the senseless violence
On June 20th in Katmandu, Nepali police fired rubber bullets at protestors, used water cannons, and tear gassed the crowd. These aggressive control tactics injured numerous people during the protests, as well as in the general clashes that occurred through the duration. Protestors pushed against barricades that had been set
On Monday, May 9th, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted to inform her followers that she had spoken with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on a possible EU-wide ban on Russian fossil fuels, and that progress had been made. She stated, “this evening’s discussion with PM Viktor Orbán
In 2020, the nuclear bomb and missiles market was valued at $72.6 billion, but current projections estimate that it will reach a value of $126.3 billion within the next 10 years. This conjecture is formed given increased tensions between a large part of the world and Russia following their invasion
In order to import essentials like natural resources, electronics, cloth, pharmaceutical products, and more, Sri Lanka has had to look to its neighbors for financial support. Within the span of only one month, the Sri Lankan rupee has depreciated significantly against the Indian rupee and virtually all other world forms
Chief Justice Andrew Cheung of Hong Kong stated, that the country’s independent judiciary system was existent and needed to be recognized. International figures like diplomats and judiciaries are watching developments closely. They are monitoring whether the judicial independence and capitalist way of life Hong Kong was promised when Britain handed over
On March 21st, Zambia’s Anti-Corruption Commission announced that it had arrested political leader Given Lubinda. When Hakainde Hichilema, the current president of Zambia, was elected in 2021, he promised to fight the country’s pervasive corruption and recover state assets that were allegedly stolen under the previous administration. Since then, numerous
With the violent war begun by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the European Union has placed punitive sanctions not only on the Russian government but also on its wealthy and influential oligarchs, with close ties to Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin. Among these is billionaire Roman Abramovich. Abramovich was targeted because the
Diplomatic talks have done almost nothing so far in terms of working towards reaching a peace agreement or an end to the war in Ukraine. Vladimir Medinsky is Russian president Vladimir Putin’s aide in these diplomatic talks, and his stance does not put peace between the two countries at the
On March 2nd, 141 of the 193 United Nations General Assembly members voted to condemn Russia’s attack on Ukraine and order for the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops. The decision comes following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine beginning February 23rd, which has caused the deaths of numerous civilians and children. The
Reacting to Mali’s most recent military coup, the Economic Community of West African States placed heavy economic sanctions on Mali to try and encourage them to permanently stabilize their leadership. However well-intentioned these efforts, the already poor civilians of Mali are feeling the actual effects. The damaging sanctions are supported
The World Bank has chosen to relocate a number of its staff working out of Ukraine following growing concern for their safety given current tensions with neighboring Russia. According to EuroNews, since the pandemic started, the World Bank has provided nearly $1.3 billion in financing to Ukraine. Financing operations for
On February 7th, the current administration of Mali’s government released a statement urging the West African Economic and Monetary Union to lift sanctions placed on its economic activity. These sanctions include suspension of all commercial and financial transactions except for food products, pharmaceutical products, medical supplies and equipment, materials for
Philanthropist and human rights activist, Osman Kavala, was told by a Turkish court on January 17 that he would be remaining in jail, where he has been detained since 2017. He was first incarcerated for allegedly financing the anti-government Gezi protests, and was acquitted of those charges in February 2020.
On January 2nd, Abdalla Hamdok resigned from his position as Sudan’s Prime Minister following months of upheaval. Only two months prior, Hamdok was ousted during a military coup and takeover, but was able to reassume his position, through compromise with military leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. His resignation comes amidst civilian
